Now 12 days into the window, the Magpies have not signed a single player despite Benitez wanting to strengthen in a number of key areas and specifying last month that he wanted all signings to have been made by January 20.

Owner of Sports Direct and Newcastle United, Mike Ashley, arrives at the High Court in central London.

"I have confidence that Mike Ashley will deliver what we need to stay in the Premier League before January 20, to be sure that we have time to work with the new players," the Spaniard said in December.

That confidence is surely dissipating and having suffered similar frustrations over the summer due to owner Mike Ashley's unwillingness to spend on the playing squad, how long will Benitez put up with this inaction?

Benitez is a hugely popular figure at St James' Park among the fans and it is believed that with the right backing he could establish the North East outfit as a top ten club, but that backing doesn't look forthcoming and if the former Chelsea and Liverpool boss were to leave he certainly wouldn't be short of job offers.

Tom Seymour

Tom is a freelance sports journalist with more than four years' experience in the industry; having also worked in radio and newspapers, as well as online. A Sheffield United fan who now lives in Bristol, Tom can be spotted at Huish Park at Yeovil Town's home games when he also does a bit of commentary.